Diminished responsibility manslaughter means he had a mental health issue that impacted on his actions. The report mentions anxiety and depression which sounds fairly low key, but he had some abnormal beliefs mentioned on that news report, plus he’ll have been assessed by at least 2 expert Forensic psychiatrists as part of the trial and sentencing. It’s pretty rare to get it if you don’t have a significant mental health issue at the time of the act.
If it has resolved, he will possibly be imprisoned or he may receive a restricted hospital order, to remain in a secure mental health hospital for treatment and rehabilitation. This may seem like a soft option but the latter is not time limited, release has to go through a Mental Health Tribunal rather than automatic release on licence or Parole Board eligibility.
Taking off my professional hat, such cases do make me uneasy and I would have to work through a lot of difficult responses when assessing such a case, as with any man who has been violent to a woman or child. COVID has had a significant effect on increasing domestic violence and killings of women which should have much greater media reporting and proper strategies in place to reduce this risk but DV and women’s services never get the funding and resources they need.
Very sad case, poor lady and her loved ones must be devastated.